The Essential Accessory - A Tube Timer

[njcanuck]

Ever wonder how long those pricey tubes have been burning?

Me too! Well, while at the Kutztown Radio Show last weekend, I spotted an old hour meter and had an idea - a dollar later, it was mine. Scroe!

So today I had a little fun with it and constructed a fancy housing (sewer pipe), added a switch and power cord from the parts bin and voila: An Audiophile Tube Hour Meter! It doesn't appear to be resettable so I'm going to run it up to 1000 (it's almost there) and use it from there.

Now I just have to remember to start it up each time I turn on the amp. Unfortunately, the amp with the expensive tubes (KT88s) doesn't have a switched outlet on the back - that would be just too easy.

 

[cgutz]

Cool. Nice price, and very retro. Could you wire it into the amps switch?

 

[njcanuck]

Cool. Nice price, and very retro. Could you wire it into the amps switch?

Certainly could, but then I'd have to go the whole nine yards and install it properly. Probably be better idea to install a switched outlet on the amp.

 

[BinaryMike]

Wish my luck was that good. I've never encountered two pieces of junk, errr collectable artifacts, in my own collection, that fit so perfectly together!

 

[chinacave]

Nice idea!

a Hobbs meter for amps.....



*Not the cartoon Hobbs or the Philosopher-guy - the meter they charge you for renting a plane by...or figure out when to re-build the engine......

 

[thefragger]

Very nice!

Maybe try wiring to a box that puts it in series with the amp? (a la dim bulb tester, or a relay...)

*edit* don't mind me, that's a terrible idea! (wired in series)

 

[FalconEddy]

Ever wonder how long those pricey tubes have been burning?

Nope!

I'm so hopelessly anal, I log all their hours on an Excel spreadsheet that's part of my tube testing data numbers.

Perhaps I should increase my OCD meds, eh? :scratch2: Although that may be taking it to extremes, when I brag about the length of time my tubes have lasted, I'm not just pulling a set of numbers out of my a$$.

. . Falcon

 

[Westy56]

I've been using a kill-a-watt for that purpose.


Steve

 

[zandru]

That's an aircraft meter, Nice! repurposing job.

 

[spartanmanor]

Nice find. I don't worry about the time I put on tubes but that is a fun device.

 

[njcanuck]

That's an aircraft meter, Nice! repurposing job.

Certainly looks like it could be an aircraft meter but I thought most most aircraft stuff was something like 48V DC? This thing is 110V - 125V AC :scratch2:

Nice find. I don't worry about the time I put on tubes but that is a fun device.

Can't honestly say that I'm that worried myself, but it was fun to throw together and less anal than a spreadsheet.